Telehealth with MMI Psychology
Telehealth allows patients to meet with healthcare providers in real-time or “virtually” through an audio and/or video connection to the Internet. During the COVID-19 crisis, MMI Department of Psychology providers are available for telehealth consultation to address a patient’s mental/ behavioral health needs.
Frequently Asked Questions about Telehealth
No, psychologists and other behavioral health practitioners have been providing these services to improve patient access to care for years.
Based on CDC recommendations to maintain social distancing and the highly contagious nature of COVID-19, MMI strongly believes telehealth appointments are the safest way to protect the health of the individuals, children, families we serve, our providers, and entire community until the public health emergency (PHE) is lifted.
Yes. First, telehealth offers the opportunity for patients to stay connected with their behavioral health provider regardless of the ability to get to a clinic. Second, scheduling flexibility may be greater with the elimination of the need to travel to a specific location. MMI Psychology will continue to offer telehealth visits as they would during their normal working hours. Third, providers can offer recommendations to address behavioral/mental health needs for implementation in the location where patients need it most or spend the most time -- the home.
In most cases, yes. During this public health emergency, telehealth services are covered the same as in-person services. We encourage you to check with your insurance plan’s member services department and ask specifically if telehealth is a covered service for behavioral health. You can find the number to call on the back of your insurance card.
MMI staff will contact you to set up a day and time for an appointment. You will then receive a secure ”Zoom” link via email inviting you to your scheduled appointment. When you click the link, it will connect you to your provider in real time.
Here are some steps you might consider:
- Set up a space for the visit within range of your computer’s camera and audio. Remove unnecessary distractions and turn off the TV or music to eliminate background noise.
- Try out your computer connection and speakers 10 minutes before your session to be sure you are ready.
- Have materials and questions prepared so you can discuss what you would like to address with your provider.
- If using your phone or tablet, it is recommended to close all other programs that may be running in the background. This improves the quality of your connection.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves guidance and best practices are changing rapidly. The following are resources developed by trusted sources may be helpful for both patients and providers.
- Medicaid & Long-Term Care during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information provided by Department of Health and Human Services
- Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet provided by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Coping with COVID-19-related stress as a student provided by American Psychological Association
If you have additional questions or want to schedule a telehealth appointment with a psychologist, call the Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Psychology at 402-559-6408.